Effective Technical Presentations (May 99)

NOTE: Unfortunately due to an insufficient number of registrations this course has been canceled.

Effective Technical Presentations

Instructors: David A. Whitman, Ph.D. and Maura G. Donovan, Ph. D.

This course will focus on both the theory and practice of effective technical presentations. Students will learn how to modify their presentation style depending on their audience. The course will cover different styles of technical presentations and provide students a chance to practice an oral presentation in a "safe" environment.

Course Topics Include:

Posters
Oral presentations for technical meetings and seminars
Presentations to management
Informal group presentations
Effective tools to use with different styles/audiences
Room settings
Types of visual aids
Examples of effective and non-effective communication skills (demonstrated by the instructors)

David A. Whitman is currently a research supervisor at 3M Pharmaceuticals, Analytical R&D, where he has worked since 1991. He has held various laboratory and supervisory positions in the area of pharmaceutical analysis of transdermal drugs and metered dose inhalers. Prior to coming to 3M, David did a post doc at the University of Minnesota in the department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology in the area of LC-MS of immunosupressive drugs and metabolites. David received his MS (1987) and Ph.D. (1989) in Chemistry from the University of Washington, Center for Process Analytical Chemistry in the area of combining Chemometrics and Flow Injection Analysis for process analysis. He received a BA in Chemistry and Environmental Studies from Macalester College in 1985. His research interests include Chemometrics, near infrared spectroscopy and automation of pharmaceutical analyses. David has been involved with the MCF for many years, including a term on the MCF board as the 1997-98 MCF President!

Maura G. Donovan is currently a research manager at Medtronic, Cell Biology group of Promeon Medical, where she has worked since 1991. She has held various laboratory and supervisory positions in the area of wound healing and cardiovascular product development. Prior to coming to Medtronic, she did a post doc at the University of Minnesota in the department of Biochemistry in the area of molecular biology. She received her Ph.D. in 1989, in Pharmacology from the University of Washington, in the area of protein purification and molecular biology of B. pertussis. She received a BA in Chemistry and Russian from Macalester College in 1985. She has research interests in the incorporation of molecular biology, cell biology and gene therapy into traditionally hardware oriented cardiovascular products.